The Dreamy Duskywing is a small butterfly that often goes unnoticed, blending seamlessly into its woodland habitat. It is dark brown overall, with forewings that show a slight outward curve along the outer edge, a feature that helps distinguish it from the larger and similarly looking Sleepy Duskywing.

The underside of the forewings displays ivory spots that are not transparent or glassy, unlike those of most other duskywings. On the upperside, each forewing has a grayish band bordered in black. The upperside of the hindwings shows rows of pale ivory spots along the lower edges, visible when the wings are spread flat.

 

 

“Dreamy Duskywing” by Elizabeth Nicodemus, licensed under (CC BY-SA 2.0)

 

Dreamy Duskywing Facts

Butterfly Family: Skipper (Hesperiidae)

Butterfly Subfamily: Pyrginae

Butterfly Wingspan: 1 1/8 – 1 1/2 inches

Butterfly Habitat: Woodland openings or edges

 

🪴 Host Plants

These are the plants where females lay eggs and caterpillars feed:

• Aspen (Populus spp.)

• Birch (Betula spp.)

• Poplar (Populus spp.)

• Willow (Salix spp.)

 

🌸 Nectar Plants

Adult Dreamy Duskywings feed on nectar from the following native flowers:

• Blackberry (Rubus spp.)

• Blueberry (Vaccinium spp.)

• Dogbane (Apocynum spp.)

• Labrador Tea (Rhododendron groenlandicum)

• Lupine (Lupinus spp.)

• New Jersey Tea (Ceanothus americanus)

• Purple Vetch (Vicia americana)

• Wild Strawberry (Fragaria virginiana)

• Winter Cress (Barbarea spp.)